XS850 Cafe Close to Paint Time

Silvergun

Silvergun

Let there be fast.
Okay, before I start I suppose it would help to give you guys some background (so you can cut my work some slack :D )
I'm 19, im working as a computer tech, have never done any professional mechanic work, tinkered in the garage since 10, built my first car from literally the ground up (1985 Mustang 5.0), no special equipment, working in my tiny garage.


So, I've always (read: last couple months) wanted a bike, so started surfing craigslist at work. And i found this gem: An '80 XS850 with a clean title (but a seized engine). I figured if I could rebuild a 302, i could do a 3-cyl for sure. So I tracked the guy down and got the bike for a steal imo, $300.
Being the dreamer I am, and after spending weeks reading in this forum, i have quite a few plans for her. Here is where I started:


(Craigslist Pics, sorry for the quality)









At this point, I'm actually about 3 weeks into the build. I'll try to go back and fill in the blanks.
 
Re: XS850 - Beatrix

When I picked it up, it looked slightly different than the photos. Surprise surprise
The PO had attempted to tear down the engine himself. After he realized he didn't have the tools or know-how, he kinda gave up and put the parts he had removed in a shoebox. Luckily, it seems to all be there.
Here's what i actually got to work with:










Everything seemed to be there, but as the PO said, the engine was stuck solid. So I began the teardown.
 
Re: XS850 - Beatrix

Hey look, a shafty. Keep up the good work man. We look forward to your progress.
 
Re: XS850 - Beatrix

Pulled the engine (not easy solo) and started tearing it down. Im lacking some engine pics, but i found the culprit!
Spun bearing in the third cyl.
A helpful ebay-er told me to check my petcocks, since a leaky one would dilute the oil and possibly ruin the bearings.... and sure nuff, they leak. BAD.










That rod journal was also out about .010" so i went to the ebay in search of a replacement and some bearing. (broke an ear off my clutch boss in the tear down, so i ordered one of them too)
 
Re: XS850 - Beatrix

While i was waiting on my parts to come, i set to that dent in the tank. Bondo ahoy!
also picked a color scheme and stripped the frame down the rest of the way.






Primed






Rustoleum Wildflower Blue :D






Stripped frame







Flat black Frame:




^This Pic nicely shoes the PO's organization skills. See that shoebox? Haha


Forks cleaned and painted:








Guess i havent mentioned this, but im trying to build this as cheaply as possible.... Shooting for under 1k. I think im only at bout 500 bucks at this point.




Front wheel gets the test paint:






Still wet, and therefore no flat finish yet, but me likey!
 
Re: XS850 - Beatrix

Painted a few more bits, flipped a pair of stock bars the PO gave me, mocked up to make a judgement on the paint scheme. It passes!



 
Re: XS850 - Beatrix

oooh another xs, good luck with the build , check out mine if you like.
 
Re: XS850 - Beatrix

the double seat with a cafe look is always difficult! there is a harley davidson seat that i believe the hump flips up and has a seat for a passenger and the hump acts as a back rest. im thinking its the Vrod that has it, not sure.
 
Re: XS850 - Beatrix

Thanks for the interest, guys!
The seat is a pain for sure. I didnt plan ahead enough to tape over the foam before glassing (i had planned on keeping the foam in there, i wasnt making a plug) but the foam didnt hold up to the heat of the resin very well and i got some wicked dips in the glass. It's gonna take a gallon of bondo! haha
Here's what it looked like after glass (still gotta drop the back a little):



 
Re: XS850 - Beatrix

This weekend i got a LOT done. I wrestled the freshly painted engine in all by my lonesome (what a trick!) Ran all of my stock wiring (still needs some adjustments and fixes) assembled the clutch/cover/etc on the RHS. Got my new cam chain installed. Put on the carbs and the new air filters. Bondo'd the seat a tad (procrastinating on that since i have to sand it all by hand.....) Forward controls installed..blah blah blah


LHS after engine install:


Yeah yeah, got paint on the tires...








Here is a pic from after the RHS got stitched up:







IMAG0346 by DySteins, on Flickr
 
Re: XS850 - Beatrix

.....annndddd engine close up:


(still got some polishing to do and some stainless bolts to order)



 
Re: XS850 - Beatrix

Seem to have run into a bit of a problem.......

With the engine all reassembled, it'll crank and crank, but nothing. no firing. no THINKING about firing. nothing.
Ive got good compression, timing set, spark appears to be OK, and my plugs are wet when i pull em.....
Thinkin maybe the starter is too worn and pulling too much current and not leaving enough for the ignition.
Gonna hunt down a kickstart lever (PO removed and lost... :/) maybe it'll kick on? we shall see
 
Re: XS850 - Beatrix

Such a long time without an update to speak of.
so here we go!


Warm weather is here, and I'm back to work.
Lots going on in life the last couple months, too busy for the ol girl.
But, I'm back at it this week, and progress has been made!

Sorted out starting issue, misplaced washer was causing binding. Sigh, that was a HUGE relief. I was starting to think my Ebay crankshaft was toast.

So, now the electric start is burnt out, but it'll kick start 2nd or 3rd kick every time. SO STOKED!
Who needs electric start anyways??

Gotta change final & middle drive oil today, then the first ride its had in 10+ years. Wish me luck. pics and video on the way
 
Re: XS850 - Beatrix

Glad to see another triple and glad to hear it's back on the road. How did the seat turn out? from the pics that hump looks a tad big. It's taller than the handlebars.
 
Re: XS850 - Beatrix

My phone has been dead the last couple nights I've been in the garage.. so no pics right now.
The hump doesnt look too bad when the seat is positioned right. In that pic, its just sitting on top of the mounts. Still haven't finished the seat up yet. I just got some leater to stitch up a seat pad.
 
Re: XS850 - Beatrix

Will be following. Love to see the different directions people take these old triples.
 
Re: XS850 - Beatrix

Finishing up the rear end this week, hopefully. Got my tail lights mounted. I used a couple Model A lights I had for an earlier (sold) project. I'm liking the look.

Tail lights by DySteins, on Flickr
 
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